[juvenal]

First post - with a puzzle.

I have a water butt which fills off a shed roof. The shed is under an elder tree which is in blossom. Thus any recent rain water in my butt has been 'filtered' through leaves and blossoms.

The butt today has a fermentation type brownish foam, thick on the water's surface. And has a manurey ,faintly alcohol smell. The water itself is the  palest yellow in colour.

Anyone with advice on this, or experienced similar? Any potential damage watering my crops form this butt?

Thanks

[Sparkyrog]

you can make elder flower champagne from the flowers ,and wine from the berries so I would say its not poisonous per se .

[New shoot]

I think you have a water butt full of elderflower pollen, gently fermenting with wild yeast.  In theory it shouldn't do your crops any harm, but the water may well get increasingly smelly and unpleasant, attracting flies.

I would be tempted to empty it now and let the butt refill with clean water 

[8doubles]

Flies do not like elder leaves , in days of yore you would tuck a branch in the head halter of your trusty steed !
Do not think they are toxic though.

A surfiet of elderberries can make small boys ( ) very, very poorly ! 

[juvenal]

Thanks, New Shoot for the insightful reply. Seems quite credible. I'm monitoring crops watered from this butt and will post any results of interest further down the line.

[juvenal]

Final verdict.

Butt water made scummy and brown by the elder tree above it produced no ill-effects when used throughout the summer to water crops.

[Dave NE]

All parts of Elder are toxic except the flowers and berries, cyanide!! Dave

[Aunt Sally]

 

All parts of Elder are toxic except the flowers and berries, cyanide!! Dave

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sambucus#Toxicity

[Yorkie]

All parts of Elder are toxic except the flowers and berries, cyanide!! Dave

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sambucus#Toxicity

Hmm, I spy with my little eye an Agatha Christie plot ... 

(Sorry, back on topic ... )